I am a junior at Brooklyn College Academy, which means I graduate next year. But I am 17 years old, and according to the system, I am supposed to be a senior, so why am I a junior? Because I was left behind. I was left behind because I did not speak English.

Schools dot NYC dot Gov: “The DOE works hard to ensure that students in every borough, district, neighborhood, and school have the tools they need to achieve their dreams. We know that excellence is more than a goal, it is the birthright of every child in our city.”

The truth is that us Black and Latinx students are working hard. However, in this system, hard-work is not the sole factor to success. At least not when access to opportunity is unequal, underprepared educators are taking on the toughest jobs, and resources are scant in our schools.

I refuse to be another Black male student who had potential but just couldn’t make it because the systems set in play were too strong to tackle. I refuse to be compliant with a system that allows my people to leave their classrooms just to walk straight into a prison cell.